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Couple Abandons Toddler To Play Pokemon Go, Gets Arrested

A husband and wife from Arizona were arrested and charged with child neglect and endangerment after allegedly deserting their 2-year-old son in order to play Pokemon Go.

Police say Brent Daley, 27, and his wife, Brianna, 25, left their toddler home alone for over an hour while they were outside playing the smartphone game, according to KSAZ.

A neighbor reportedly called the police after she found the couple's child outside by himself around 10:30 p.m. on July 31. Deputies arrived minutes later and reported that the boy was dirty, sweaty, red-faced and barefoot. The house was unlocked.

When the deputies contacted Brent and told him his son was outside by himself, Brent allegedly said, "Whatever," before hanging up.

The Daleys returned home shortly thereafter and reportedly confessed to leaving their sleeping son alone in the house while they searched for Pokemon.

"Our agency and many other law enforcement agencies have been warning people about personal safety while playing this interactive smartphone game, but we never would have imagined that parents would abandon a child to play Pokemon Go," Sheriff Paul Babeu said.

"The deputies found the child locked out of his home in 96-degree weather with no water while his parents were gone interacting with their smartphone game," he added.

This is not the first time someone has abandoned good judgment in favor of the popular and free smartphone app. In July, two men in their 20s fell down a cliff while trying to catch Pokemon in California, according to CNN. Both men sustained undisclosed injuries and were transported to a nearby hospital for treatment.